correction (because I cannot edit): "..., but NOT capitalizing on the positives of things like MAPS would be..."

Bruh, your title is grossly misleading.

Ed prefers "skilldawg" not "bruh"

Can't go much lower than invoking the dreaded "love it or leave it" crap....




Agreed that good points are brought up but the problem isn't MAPS, it's the silly property tax rules that are the ultimate basis for city and state revenue problems.

Short but sweet, the title of this thread is just outright stupid. I've lived outside OKC for 30 years but still visit almost monthly. Maybe people who live in OKC daily don't see it but OKC has completely transformed since MAPS started. OKC now has good things and having good things cost money. I'm not sure if Mr. Shadid just doesn't like having good things or if some of you are just of the mindset that if "l don't use it so l don't want to pay for it." Lots of other people use those things you all think is a waste. Those things also give OKC an image that was rock-bottom but is now far better. There have been multiple billions invested in the city. The city center is being rebuilt. Are there things outside downtown that need to be done? Sure, but you have to start somewhere. I believe the citizens voted hundreds of millions for street repairs and improvements. There has been a MAPS for kids and there are senior centers being built so the outer ares are not completely ignored.
To improve the other areas, you have to make it more desirable to live inward, which is starting. The city also needs to do a much better job of attracting outside Angel investing for redevelopment. The city should make it a bit more difficult for outward expansion.
As the old saying goes, lead, follow or get out of the way. Just don't be an obstructionist whiner and if you are outvoted, live with it. If it's just too much to handle? Leave.

What did MAPS original initiative do for OKC:

IMO, it raised the quality of life & how successful our city is viewed today.

Bricktown Ballpark: Cost: $34 million, we continue to reap the benefits with AAA baseball, Big 12 tournament playoffs and a winter event.

Bricktown Canal: Cost: $23 million, provided an entertainment district & tourist attraction in the core of our city.

Chesapeake Arena: Cost: $87.7 million, lured NBA basketball, provided a venue for major concerts, collegiate sports & events.

Cox Convention Center: Costs: $60 million, renovation of our city's convention center which led to more hotels to kick start our city's renaissance.

Civic Center Music Hall: Cost: $53 million, renovation of our city's original convention center & performance auditorium, kept its original facade in place.

State Fairgrounds Improvements: Cost: $14 million, included a new livestock show facility, new horse barns, and renovations and improvements of the arena and several exhibition buildings.

Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library: Cost: $21.5 million, includes state-of-the-art information services and equipment, classroom space for students of all ages — including adults — as well as traditional library resources.

Oklahoma River: Cost: $53.5 million, 7-mile stretch of the North Canadian River has been transformed into a series of river lakes bordered by landscaped areas, trails and recreational facilities.

Oklahoma Spirit Trolleys: Cost: $5 million, nine trolley replicas, served downtown and Bricktown and provided shuttle service to and from the Interstate 40/Meridian hotel and restaurant district and the Stockyards City area. IMO, this is the catalyst for our present day streetcar services which will improve upon completion of the new convention center & Omni headquarters conference hotel.

Credit $350 million plus dollars, where our city is now as the result of this original initiative investment our voters made in our city, this made it possible to pass subsequent bonds and future initiatives.

We don't live in a perfect world; the see-saw affect of an initiative like MAPS did raise the tide for our city as a whole and inadvertently lower it for some.

One city cited by leaders in both Lexington and Louisville is Oklahoma City. Both chambers of commerce have visited the Sooner State’s capital in the past six years to examine the improvements it has made through investment in infrastructure. In 1993, city leaders pitched a term-limited one-cent sales tax for specified capital projects that would be paid for in cash after the revenues accumulated. The tax represented an additional two cents for the purchase of a typical $2 cup of coffee. Through those pennies, $309 million was raised in Oklahoma City, a city with a U.S. Census population of 444,719 in 1990. That revenue earned an additional $54 million in interest while on deposit, which also was used to finance construction.

Lexington and Louisville Build Case for Local Revenue Options: https://smileypete.com/business/2013-01-02-lexington-and-louisville-build-case-for-local-revenue-options/

There will always be needed improvements which add to the fabric of our city; MAPS initiatives have contributed to the improvements in our quality of life. As OKC enters the Big League city realm, it is important to continue to enhance & improve what we have which contributes to future expansion.

Since 1990, we've seen significant developments in Oklahoma City & surrounding communities. Keep MAPS initiatives alive, it's an investment balance mixture of needs and wants that will help our city continue to grow at a moderate pace which we should be able to maintain.

By the way, are we, OKC referred to as the 'Big Friendly.' Didn't like the reference at first; however it is beginning to have a nice tone to it. OKC is fine with me.

Remember this 'My 2 Cents:

Does Oklahoma City Have A Nickname? https://www.news9.com/story/14665619/my-2-cents-does-oklahoma-city-have-a-nickname

While I think most feel that MAPS projects have been beneficial, there is also a feeling that large areas of the city have been neglected and shutout from OKC's renaissance.

While I think most feel that MAPS projects have been beneficial, there is also a feeling that large areas of the city have been neglected and shutout from OKC's renaissance.

Agree 100%

This in my opinion, why there are plenty of items which could benefit our city thru future MAPS initiatives; a blend of needs & wants, therefore we don't have to invent ideas or suggest things we don't need or want. Continue to submit your items to Mayor David Holt.

Having lived in Boston and Seattle, I can say we are veeeeeeeery friendly here in OKC.



By the way, are we, OKC referred to as the 'Big Friendly.' Didn't like the reference at first; however it is beginning to have a nice tone to it. OKC is fine with me.

Remember this 'My 2 Cents:

Does Oklahoma City Have A Nickname? https://www.news9.com/story/14665619/my-2-cents-does-oklahoma-city-have-a-nickname